The Rowlett City Council worked toward filling its city manager vacancy Tuesday night, agreeing to use a search firm and to incorporate sales pitches from multiple search firms.

Interim City Manager Brian Funderburk recommended not to go in-house with the search, saying a new leader might be the most important decision the council makes.

“It’ll be the best $20,000 or $30,000 you’ve ever spent,” Funderburk said.

Staff will create a request for proposals from search firms and it should be ready by early next month. Then, it’ll be another 30-45 days before those applications are narrowed by a council sub-committee consisting of Tammy Dana-Bashian, Carl Pankratz and Doug Phillips.

The full search, Funderburk estimated, would take 4-6 months. The council stated its “drop-dead” timeline involved the May 2014 election – because two of its members, Mayor Pro Tem Chris Kilgore and Phillips, are term-limited.